I'm going through a study with some women at church discussing Bruxy Cavey's book The End of Religion. I've really enjoyed it and agreed with most of his thoughts. Essentially he says, "Jesus came to put an end to religion, not start a new one." He defines religion as rituals, routines, and most importantly laws that are necessary to have a relationship with God. Jesus came to do away with all of that. Accepting Jesus' deity, death, and resurrection is the key to our relationship with God.
Anyway, toward the end of this book Cavey discusses the difference between achieving a relationship with Christ and experiencing a relationship with Christ. He says, "Christ-followers participate in spiritual practices (like prayer, Bible study, and meditation), not in order to achieve something, but in order to better experience what they already know to be true. I talk with my wife, not in order to achieve marriage, but in order to experience the marriage we have." (pg 220) Most religions, law-based ritualistic religions, have ways in which you achieve something. We could say they are works based. Jesus came to do away with laws and rituals (I say this in a general manner that laws are not needed to experience Jesus) so that we might have a true, uninhibited relationship with God. Cavey continues, "But according to Jesus, the connection already exists, as far as God is concerned. All we have to do is welcome it. God's loving presence surrounds us like air; it is the atmosphere we live in -- we simply need to stop holding our breath." (pg 220)
Achievement, to me, signifies an end result. Experience signifies an on-going journey. God has already offered us the achievement of Grace without having to do any works, so we can experience Him to the fullest. Why do we make things so difficult?
What about you? Are you trying to achieve a relationship with Christ so you can check it off your list and move on or are you longing to experience the wonder that is God?
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